William Rossbach bound collection of reports and maps on proposed harbour and river entry works on the New South Wales coast

MLMSS 11707/Box 1X

fonds

1866-1896

Textual Records, Cartographic Materials

9653539

0.3 metres of textual material (1 outsize box) - typescript, manuscript

William Rossbach (1862-1911) was born in Woollahra, New South Wales and entered the New South Wales Public Works Department Harbours and Rivers Branch in 1877. He successively became a draughtsman and 1st class Assistant Engineer in the Branch until his retirement in 1911.

Sir John Coode (1816-1892) was a civil engineer was elected member of the Institute of Civil Engineers in 1849, which he was president from 1889-1891. He was knighted in 1872 and appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, 1886. Coode visited Australia where he examined and recommended improvements to harbours and river mouths along Australia's coastline.

The New South Wales Public Works Department, Harbours and Rivers Branch was operative from 1858-1903 and had responsibilities including water supply, improvement, maintenance and convenience of navigation, water supply, works not compromised under either of the above heads. The Branch was reorganised in 1904 when it became the Rivers, Water Supply and Drainage Branch.

References:
New South Wales Legislative Assembly. "Report of the Department of Public Works, for the year ended 30 June, 1911". Accessed on 4 November 2022. https://media.opengov.nsw.gov.au/pairtree_root/02/41/16/5d/5f/50/6c/22/08/6f/d5/20/c8/64/87/9f/obj/document.pdf
New South Wales. "Public Service List, 1858-1903". Accessed 4 November 2022. https://records-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1ebnd1l/ORGANISATIONS1005414
State Archives of New South Wales. "Habours and Rivers Branch [I] [Department of Public Works]". Accessed 4 November 2022.
Crawford, D.R. "Coode, Sir John (1816-1892)". Accessed 4 November 2022. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/coode-sir-john-3250

Robert Ian Jack purchased from Richard Neylon Rare Books, November 2000

Bound volume collated by William Rossbach, Chief Draftsman, New South Wales Public Works Department, Harbours and Rivers Branch, of reports published in the 'Votes and proceedings of the Legislative Assembly' and maps on proposed harbour and river entry works on the New South Wales coast, including:

Tweed River: Estimated cost of harbour works; and map titled, 'Part of the Tweed River and Terranora Creek', 1893

Brunswick River: Report and plan by Mr. Edward .B. Price, 1890; and maps titled, 'Brunswick River entrance', 1890; and 'Brunswick River', 1893

Byron Bay: Description and plan by Frederick Howard, Staff Commander R.N., 1884; estimated cost of breakwater, and maps titled, 'Local sketch showing Byron Bay', 1884; 'Cape Byron Bay', 1884; and 'Cape Byron Bay', 1894

Richmond River: Report and plans by Sir John Coode, 1888; and maps titled, 'Richmond River flood diagram', 1887 and four plates of 'Richmond River cross sections of the river and its tributaries', 1887 by E.O. Moriarty; 'Richmond River plan of entrance shewing works recommended by Sir John Coode', 1888; and 'Richmond River entrance', 1894

Clarence River: Report and plan by Sir John Coode, 1888; revised estimate of cost by Mr. C.W. Darley; and maps titled, 'Clarence River', 1887; 'Clarence River plan of entrance shewing works recommended by Sir John Coode', 1887; 'Clarence River entrance rock contours', 1887; and 'Clarence River', 1893

Coffs Harbour: Description by Frederick Howard, Staff Commander R.N.

Bellinger River: Description by Frederick Howard, Staff Commander R.N., 1890; estimated cost of harbour works; and map titled, 'Bellinger River entrance', 1894

Nambucca River: Description by Frederick Howard, Staff Commander R.N., estimated cost of harbour works, and map titled, 'Nambuccra River entrance', 1894

Macleay River: Report, plans and estimated cost of training wall, Shark Island by Sir John Coode, 1891; two reports on Macleay River improvements by Robert Hickson, engineer-in-chief for Public Works, 1895; and maps titled, 'Macleay River general plan of river from Belgrave Falls to the sea shewing works recommended by Sir John Coode', 1890; and 'New entrance to the Macleay River', 1895

Trial Bay: Correspondence relating to Trial Bay as a harbour of refuge by Mr. Edwin Orpen Moriarty and others, 1886; construction report and estimated cost of breakwater at Trial Bay by Mr. Darley, 1890; and maps titled, 'Trace of the coast from Scott's Head to Smoky Cape shewing the entrance to the Macleay River', 1866; 'Trial Bay surveyed by Commander F. Howard assisted by Lieutenant Francis R.N.', 1889; and 'Trial Bay breakwater', 1896

Hastings River: Estimated cost of harbour works, and map titled, 'A scheme for the improvement of the Hastings River entrance', 1895

Manning River: Report, plans and estimated cost of harbour works by Sir John Coode, 1889; description report by Mr. H.R. Charleton, 1889; and maps titled, 'Manning River general plan from Wingham to the sea shewing works recommended by Sir John Coode', 1889; Manning River plan of Harrington Entrance shewing works recommended by Sir John Coode', 1889; Manning River comparative plans of Harrington Entrance at different dates to accompany Sir John Coode's report', 1889; and 'Manning River entrance', 1894

Newcastle Harbour: Proposed improvement report by Mr. C.W. Darley, 1894; estimated cost of harbour works; and map titled, Newcastle River shewing proposed improvements

Lake Macquarie: Report and plans by Sir John Coode, 1888; estimated cost of breakwater extension; and maps titled, 'Lake Macquarie entrance plan shewing works recommended by Sir John Coode', 1887; 'Lake Macquarie entrance details of channels, breakwaters & trainings banks as recommended by Sir John Coode in his report', 1887; 'Plan shewing Brisbane Water', and 'Lake Macquarie entrance', 1894

Harbour for south coast: Reports by Mr. H.R. Carleton, Harbours and Rivers Branch Principal Assistant Engineer, and Mr. R. Hickson, Engineer-in-Chief for Public Works; estimated cost of harbour for Illawarra District; and maps titled, 'Bellambi', 1895; 'Wollongong', and 'Port Kembla'

Wollongong: Report and plan by Sir John Coode, 1891; and map titled, 'Wollongong shewing works recommended by Sir John Coode', 1891

Access via appointment - due to fragility of maps

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

In ink, "W[illia]m Rossbach 24 June 1896", and stamped, "Chief Draftsman Habours & Rivers"